Eddie Alvarez is an American mixed martial arts fighter, and current Bellator Fighting Championships lightweight champion. Sherdog.com ranks Alvarez as the #3 lightweight in the world. Alvarez used to compete for the Japanese DREAM promotion, and also for ProElite's EliteXC promotion. It has been rumored that both Affliction and the UFC have expressed interest in signing the rising star, however Bellator Fighting Championships signed Alvarez to an exclusive deal in late 2008.